GERMANY: BILL CLINTON AT PROGRESSIVE GOVERNANCE CONF

(2 Jun 2000) Natural Sound XFA Representatives of 15 centre-left governments, including U-S President Bill Clinton, gathered for a summit in Berlin on Friday to discuss how best to harness global financial markets and new technology for the common good. The summit was hosted by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and was also attended by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and South African President Thabo Mbeki. Organisers are calling it a conference on "Progressive Governance," but the concept has been known by other buzzwords. The concept was originally known as the Third Way when Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair touted the idea to modernise the Labour Party he leads. But Blair, the architect of the concept, will be absent. The hosts say domestic matters have forced him to pull out. While denying a rift, Germany is struggling to hide its disappointment. The date was even fixed with a view of the date of the expected arrival of Blair's new baby. The Third Way is an attempt to modernise Social Democratic ideals central to European politics by rebalancing the role of a market economy to take into account the ideals of social justice. Issues to be discussed include immigration, electronic commerce, education reform and job creation. The agenda underlines new concerns which have arisen since the idea of a common threat disappeared after the fall of communism. It also marks a shift in priorities in an era of swift technological advancements and economies increasingly held under the sway of fickle markets. The leaders gathering Saturday come from greatly disparate geographical and economic profiles. As well as Clinton and Mbeki, a total of six European leaders will attend. Also coming are three leaders from Latin America, the Canadian prime minister and the prime minister of New Zealand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...